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challenging

USCHAL-uhn-jing/ˈt͡ʃælənd͡ʒɪŋ/

3 meanings of challenging

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  1. 1
    adjective
    Hard to do because it takes a lot of effort, skill, or patience.

    Like trying to climb a wall that is very tall and steep.

    The math test was challenging, but she finished every question.

    Climbing the steep, rocky hill is challenging for young kids.

    Similardifficult, demanding, tough, hard, taxing

    Oppositeeasy, simple, undemanding

    Note
  2. 2
    verb
    Present participle of challenge. Use this -ing form when the action is happening now.

    The lawyer is challenging the witness's account point by point.

    The players are challenging the referee's decision right now.

    Note
  3. 3
    noununcountable
    The act of questioning something or calling someone to a contest.

    Like raising your hand to say, "I don't think that's right."

    The challenging of the test results led to a full recount.

    Her constant challenging of the rules annoyed the teacher.

    Similarquestioning, defiance

    Note

challenging is a form of challenge

challenge, verb: To be hard for someone. Full entry

Forms
challengechallenges he/she/itchallenging -ing formchallenged past tense, past participle
Spelling
challenge → challenging: drop the e, add -ing

Practice

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Origin

From the word "challenge" plus the ending "-ing". It comes from Middle English chalengynge.